WELSH SOUTH ROAD NATIONAL
by Dixey
Carentan - May 2012
The first of the Welsh S R Nationals took place from Carentan on Sunday 27th May after a one-day holdover. Convoyer Phil Fishlock waited until 12.10 to liberate after the western side of the English Channel cleared of rain and mist. Returns were sparse with some having fair returns for this approx 185 miles race whilst others fared much better. With the easterly winds not as strong as the day before they still managed to do the course in approx four hours to the leading lofts.
The time and vels are of course only probable at the time of compiling this report on late Sunday night but may I once again offer many congratulations to the probable winners into the east sect, G & M Clayton of Abertillery who timed two together to be probable 1st and 2nd National. This is the fifth National win for these astute fanciers and this winner was in fact bred out of a National winner “Ieuan Ben”, their Oudenard National winner. The winner of this National is a two year old cock raced on widowhood and contains the bloodlines of Vandenabeele and Koopman. I will of course give a further mention in future dispatches of the breeding of this excellent winner. How ironic that I bought a tropical shirt for my good pal Graham Clayton while down the Caribbean in March and told him he should wear it next time he wins another National at their marking station.
G & M Clayton
Taking 2nd is the Treharne & Son lofts at Nantyglo, who clocked three together. Their first timer was a two year old hen raced on roundabout and is a pure Han’s Eijerkamp, bred down from John’s Polly and Lady Martin. This good hen has raced really well for them. They had a very good race clocking 13 out of their 15 entries.
Other early timers saw Alan Reed of Blackwood once again in the swim and this is another fine fancier with a host of very good National wins behind him as well.
I have included the first twenty-two open positions and, as I said above, these early velocities are probable. G & M Clayton, Nr Crumlin 1372 (two together). Mr G Threharne & Son, Nantyglo (three together) 1370. Mr A Reed Blackwood, 1359. Strickland & Grandson, Pontewyndd 1347. Frampton & Price, 1333, Mr G Lewis & Son, Llanilleth, 1328. Mr & Mrs Durham, Gwent, 1327. Thorne & Morgan, Abertillery, 1325. Mr & Mrs Burrows, Llanilleth 1324. M Sparey, Abertillery, 1318. Gregory & Davies 1310. Mr & Mrs T Mathews, Tredegar 1297. D & G Bruton, Tredegar 1296. Davies Morris & Bevan, Tredegar 1292. H & M Pullen, Fochriw 1290. Ireland & Hyman, New Tredegar 1287. Mr D Evans, Gelligare 1272. W A Rees, Treharris 1260. Mr J Ludlam, Nelson 1258. Nicholas & Schott Cardiff 1211. A Figgures, Skewen 1211. Mr Haydon Davies Winchwen 1207. Leaders in the WA section, A Figgures, Mr Haydon Davies Fishlock & Roberts. Morgan & Austin and G & SR Ashton & Son.
To end this report I’m sure the members would share with me many congratulations to Graham and Martin Clayton on another fine win. Also not forgetting the tremendous work in getting this information to us at short notice to the secretary Charlie Silver.
